Aerosol dispensing valve improvements

ABSTRACT

An aerosol dispenser and aerosol dispensing valve for powders and other particulate materials, especially those which tend to agglomerate. The dispenser has a container with a top wall mounting the dispensing valve and a dip tube extending from the valve to the bottom of the container through which material within the container is caused to flow to the valve by the pressurizing medium in the container. The dispensing valve has a valve stem which is depressed to open the valve and a spring which biases the valve stem to closed position and is sealed within the valve housing against contact by the material in the container so as to avoid clogging of the spring by the material. The lower end of the valve stem extends into the dip tube and has an enlarged pointed head with teeth and cutting edges for breaking up any agglomerates of the material which are forced up through the dip tube or become lodged between the breakup head and a primary valve stem wiper seal on the lower end of the valve housing. This seal wipes the stem clean during each actuation of the valve to maintain the effectiveness of the seal. An annular clearance space may be provided about the lower end of the valve housing for receiving broken-up agglomerate masses.

United States Patent [1 1 Myers AEROSOL DISPENSING VALVE IMPROVEMENTSHarold J. Myers, 585 W. Duarte Rd., No. 31, Arcadia, Calif. 91006 [22]Filed: Aug. 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 386,870

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Attorney, Agent, or FirmBoniard I.Brown [57] ABSTRACT An aerosol dispenser and aerosol dispensing valvefor 1451 Aug. 19, 1975 powders and other particulate materials,especially those which tend to agglomerate. The dispenser has acontainer with a top wall mounting the dispensing valve and a dip tubeextending from the valve to the bottom of the container through whichmaterial within the container is caused to flow to the valve by thepressurizing medium in the container. The dispensing valve has a valvestem which is depressed to open the valve and a spring which biases thevalve stem to closed position and is sealed within the valve housingagainst contact by the material in the container so as to avoid cloggingof the spring by the material. The lower end of the valve stem extendsinto the dip tube and has an enlarged pointed head with teeth andcutting edges for breaking up any agglomerates of the material which areforced up through the dip tube or become lodged between the breakup headand a primary valve stem wiper seal on the lower end of the valvehousing. This seal wipes the stem clean during each actuation of thevalve to maintain the effectiveness of the seal. An annular clearancespace may be provided about the lower end of the valve housing forreceiving broken-up agglomerate masses.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures AEROSOL DISPENSING VALVE IMPROVEMENTSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates generally to aerosol dispensers and more particularly to anaerosol dispenser and aerosol dispensing valve for powders and othermaterials containing particles such as granules, beads, flakes or thelike, especially those which tend to agglomerate in the dispensercontainer.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art Aerosol dispensers are utilized todispense a wide variety of materials. Some of these materials, referredto herein as particulate materials, comprise or contain particles, suchas granules, beads, flakes and the like. One example of such aparticulate material is an antiperspirant powder. This invention isconcerned with aerosel dispensers for such particulate materials.

The prior art is replete with a vast assortment of aerosol dispensersand aerosol dispensing valves. Examples of such dispensers and valvesare described in the following US. Pat. Nos.: 2,496,258; 2,552,857;2,766,913; 2,801,029; 2,913,749; 2,925,937; 3,080,094; 3,134,505;3,255,926; 3,338,479; 3,404,810; 3,404,81 1; 3,415,426; 3,422,992;3,439,840; 3,455,489; 3,484,023; 3,498,506;

3,525,997; 3,603,483; 3,648,899; and 3,656,659.

An aerosol dispensing valve which is particularly designed fordispensing powders and anti-perspirants is described in the publicationentitled AEROSOL AGE, May, 1972 issue, at pages 30, 31.

Dispensing powders and other particulate materials present certainproblems to which this invention is addressed. One of these problemsresides in the fact that a dispensing valve spring, if exposed to suchmaterials, tends to become clogged by the materials with resultantimproper closing or other malfunctioning of the valves. Moreover, manyparticulate materials tend to agglomerate in the container of theaerosol dispenser. The resulting agglomerates frequently block thedispensing passage of the valve or prevent proper closing .of the valve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aerosol dispenser and aerosol dispensingvalve of this invention are uniquely designed to obviate the above andother problems associated with aerosol dispensing of particulatematerials. To this end, the dispenser has a container with a top wallmounting an aerosol dispensing valve and a dip tube extending centrallythrough the container from the valve to the bottom of the container.When the valve is opened, the material within the container is displacedfrom the annular region between the container wall and the'dip tube intothe lower end of the tube and then flows upwardly through the tube tothe dispensing valve and finally through the dispensing passage of thevalve to its dispensing orifice.

The dispensing valve has a tubular housing coaxially secured to the topwall of the dispenser container. Ex-

tending centrally through this valve housing is a valve stem havingupper and lower ends extending above the container top wall and thelower end of the housing, respectively. An annular resilient wiper sealis secured to the lower end of the valve housing in surrounding wipingcontact with the valve stem. A bearing member, such as a second annularresilient wiper seal, is secured to the upper end of the valve housingand guides the valve stem for longitudinal movement relative to thehousing.

Extending centrally through the valve stem is a dispensing passage. Theupper end of this passage opens to atmosphere through a dispensingorifice at the upper end of the valve stem. The lower end of the passageopens laterally through an inlet port in the stem wall. The valve stemis movable longitudinally between a lower open position wherein thisinlet port is located below the wiper seal on the lower end of the valvehousing and an upper closed position wherein the latter seal engages thestern below the port. Accordingly, when the valve stem is in openposition, material may flow from the dispenser container into the stempassage through the inlet port and then upwardly through the passage tothe dispensing orifice. When the valve stem is in closed position, thelower wiper seal blocks the inlet port.

According to one feature of the invention, the valve stem is biased toclosed position by a spring contained in the valve housing, above itslower wiper seal. Accordingly, the spring is isolated from the materialin the dispenser container and hence is immune to becoming clogged bythe material.

According to another feature, the lower end of the valve stem has anenlarged agglomerate breakup head. This head has a pointed lower end andpointed teeth and edges which perform two agglomerate breakup functions.First, the head breaks up any agglomerates of the material beingdispensed which are forced upwardly through the dip tube to the valve.Secondly, the head breaks up any agglomerates which lodge between thehead and lower valve wiper seal and tend to block the inlet port andprevent proper closing of the valve. Preferably, an annular clearancespace is provided about the lower end of the valve housing into whichany broken agglomerate masses may be displaced by material entering thevalve inlet port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of anaerosol dispenser according to the invention, with portions broken awayfor clarity;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the dispensing valveand showing the valve in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a section similar to FIG. 2 showing the valve open;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 44 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 55 in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The aerosol dispenser 10illustrated has a cylindrical container 12 with a cylindrical side wall14, a domeshaped top wall 16, and a dished bottom wall 18. Mountedcentrally on the top wall 16 is an aerosol dispensing valve 20 of theinvention. A dip tube 22 extends centrally through the container 12 fromthe valve 20 to the bottom of the container. In this case, the dip tubeterminates a small distance above the bottom container wall 18 toprovide a flow space 24 between the tube and latter wall. The bottom ofthe dip tube 22 must always be above the compacting mass of flake orpowder.

When the valve is open, the material within the container 12 isdisplaced, by the pressurizing medium in the container, from the annularregion 26 between the container 14 and dip tube 22, through the flowspace 24, into the lower end of the tube. The material then passesupwardly through the tube to the valve 20 and then through a dispensingpassage in the valve to the dispensing orifice of the valve as describedbelow.

The aerosol dispensing valve 20 has a tubular valve housing 28 which isconcentrically supported at its upper end by the container top wall 16.To this end, the top wall has a central cup portion 30 surrounded by acircular bead or rim 32. Cup portion 30 has a bottom wall 34, thecentral portion of which is formed into a cap 36 which opens downwardlyand receives the upper end of the valve housing 28. The cylindrical sidewall of the cap is indented to form anintemal annular shoulder 38 on thecap which engages under an external annular shoulder 40 on the valvehousing to secure the latter to the cap.

Extending centrally through the valve housing 28 is a tubular valve stem42. The upper end of this stem extends above the upper end of thehousing and through an opening 44 in the upper wall 46 of the containertop wall cap 36. The lower end of the valve stem extends below the lowerend of the valve housing, through an opening 48 in a lower end wall 50of the housing.

relative to the valve housing. The outer edge of member 54 is firmlygripped between an annular knife edge 56 on the upper end of the valvehousing and the top wall 46 of the container cap 36, and provides a sealbetween cap 36 and valve housing 28 to prevent leakage from thecontainer interior.

Extending centrally through the valve stem 42 is a dispensing passage58. The upper end of this passage communicates with a dispensing orifice60 in a pushbutton like dispensing'head 62 fixed on the upper end of thestem. The lower end of passage 58 opens laterally through an inlet port64 in the wall of the stem. Valve stem 42 is movable between its upperclosed position of FIG. 2 and its lower open position of FIG. 3. Inclosed position, the lower wiper seal 52 of the valve 20 engages thestem below and thereby blocks the inlet port 64. In open position, theport is located below the seal and opens to the interior of thecontainer 12.

Valve stem 42 is biased to its upper closed position by a spring 66.According to a feature of the invention, this spring is isolated fromthe contents of the dispenser so as to prevent clogging of the spring bythe material being dispensed and resultant improper or incompleteclosing of the valve. To this end, the spring 66 is located within thevalve housing 28, above its lower wiper seal 52. The spring surroundsthe valve stem and seats at its ends against the lower valve housingwall 50 and a collar 68 secured to the stem within the housing so as toyieldably retain the stem in its closed position of FIG. 2.

The dip tube 22 has an internal diameter somewhat greater than anexternal diameter of the valve housing 28. The upper end of the tube istelescoped over the lower end of the housing and is secured to thehousing by deforming the upper end of the tube over an external flange70 on the housing. The lower end of the valve housing, below the flange70, and the surrounding portion of the dip tube form an interveningannular clearance space 71 to be referred to again presently.

From the description to this point, it is apparent that the dispensingvalve 20 is normally held closed by its spring 66. The valve is openedby pressing downward on the valve stem push button 62 to depress thevalve stem 42 to its open position of FIG. 3. The pressurizing medium inthe dispenser container 12 then displaces material from the annularcontainer region 26, through the flow space 24, into the dip tube 22.The material passes up through the dip tube and then emerges from thedispenser through the valve stem inlet port 64, passage 58, anddispensing orifice 60.

As noted earlier, the aerosol dispenser 10 is primarily designed fordispensing powders and other particulate materials containing orcomprising particles, such as granules, beads, flakes or the like. Manymaterials of this kind tend to agglomerate and the resultingagglomerates or masses tend to block the dispenser passages.

According to a further feature of the invention, blockage of the presentdispenser by such agglomerates is prevented or at least greatlyminimized by an agglomerate breakup head 72 on the lower end of thevalve stem 42. This head has a generally star-shape in transversecross-section and is formed with tapered radial teeth 74circumferentially spaced about and projecting radially of the head.Teeth 74 taper outwardly to pointed tips 76 which are spaced a smalldistance from the dip tube 22 so as to provide a flow space about thehead. Extending downwardly from the tooth tips 76 are cutting edges 78on the teeth which converge to a lower pointed end 80. Extendingupwardly from the tooth tips are converging cutting edges 82.

The lower cutting edges 78 and pointed end 80 of the breakup head 72 actto breakup any agglomerated masses which are forced upwardly through thedip tube 22. The upper cutting edges 82 break up any agglomerated masseswhich become lodged between the lower wiper 52 of the valve 20 and thebreakup head and tend to prevent or inhibit closing of the valve as wellas blockage of the inlet port 64. The broken-up agglomerate masses aredisplaced into the annular clearance space 71 by the material exitingthrough the inlet port, thus, this exiting material tends to undergoswirling flow within the region between the wiper seal 52 and breakuphead 72 and this swirling flow displaces the broken-up agglomeratemasses into the clearance space 71 by centrifugal force.

The portion of the valve stem 42 between the inlet port 64 and the valvestem head 72 tapers smoothly to an increasing diameter, as shown, toprovide a more effective sealing action when the valve is closed. Wiperseal 52 is deformed and compressed during valve closure by the taperedportion of the valve stem head, under the urging of spring 62, toprovide a primary seal (FIG. 2). The wiper seal 52 wipes the valve stemclean each time the valve is opened and closed to further enhance thesealing action.

The inventor claims:

1. A dispensing valve for an aerosol dispenser for dispensingaparticulate material which tends to agglomer- I ate comprising:

a tubular housing having normally upper and lower ends,

a tubular valve stem extending centrally through and beyond the ends ofsaid housing and having a central passage opening through the upper endof said stem and laterally through a port in the lower end of said stem,

an annular resilient wiper sea] at the lower end of said housingsurrounding and disposed in wiping contact with said stem,

a bearing member at the upper end of said housing guiding said stem foraxial movement relative to said housing and seal between a lower openposition wherein said port is below said seal and an upper closedposition wherein said seal engages said stem below said port,

a spring within said housing above said seal and engaging said stem andhousing for urging said stem to closed position, and

an enlarged agglomerate breakup head on the lower end of said stemhaving a lower pointed end and pointed teeth with relatively sharpaxially presented Cutting edges.

2. A valve according to claim 1 wherein:

said cutting edges face toward said seal to cut through agglomeratessituated between said seal and breakup head.

3. A valve according to claim 1 wherein:

said cutting edges face away from said seal to cut through agglomeratesapproaching said valve assembly.

4. A valve according to claim 1 wherein:

said teeth are spaced circumferentially about and project radially outfrom said head,

said teeth taper radially outward to pointed tips,

said teeth have upper convergent cutting edges extending from said tipstoward said seal for cutting through agglomerates situated between saidhead and seal and lower convergent cutting edges extending from saidtips away from said seal for cutting through agglomerates approachingsaid valve assembly.

5. A valve according to claim 4 wherein:

said stem tapers smoothly to an increasing diameter in the regionbetween said port and head.

6. A valve according to claim 1 including:

a dip tube extending from the lower end of said valve housing inradially spaced surrounding relation to said head.

7. A valve according to claim 6 wherein:

the upper end of said dip tube surrounds the lower end of said housingin spaced relation thereto to form an annular clearance space betweensaid tube and the lower housing end.

8. A dispensing valve for an aerosol dispenser for particulate materialwhich tends to agglomerate, comprising:

a valve stem having normally upper and lower ends,

an annular resilient wiper seal surrounding and disposed in wipingcontact with said stem, and

an enlarged agglomerate breakup head on the lower end of said sternhaving a lower pointed end and pointed teeth with relatively sharpaxially presented cutting edges, said cutting edges facing toward saidseal to cut through agglomerates situated between said seal and breakuphead.

9. A dispensing valve for an aerosol dispenser for particulate materialwhich tends to agglomerate, comprising:

a valve stem having normally upper and lower ends,

an annular resilient wiper seal surrounding and disposed in wipingcontact with said stem, and

an enlarged agglomerate breakup head on the lower end of said stemhaving a lower pointed end and pointed teeth with relatively sharpaxially presented cutting edges, said teeth being spacedcircumferentially about and projecting radially out from said head,

said teeth tapering radially outward to pointed tips,

said teeth having upper convergent cutting edges extending from saidtips toward said seal for cutting through agglomerates situated betweensaid head and seal and having lower convergent cutting edges extendingfrom said tips away from said seal for cutting through agglomeratesapproaching said valve assembly.

10. An aerosol dispenser for dispensing a particulate material whichtends to agglomerate comprising:

a container having top and bottom walls,

a dispensing valve centrally mounted on said top wall,

a dip tube extending from said valve centrally through said containertoward said bottom wall through which said material flows from saidcontainer to said valve assembly,

said valve assembly comprising a tubular housing secured to the upperend of said dip tube, a valve stem extending centrally through saidhousing and having an upper end extending above said container top walland a lower end extending below the lower end of said valve housing intosaid dip tube, said stem having a central passage opening through theupper end of the stern and laterally through a port in the lower end ofsaid stem, an annular resilient wiper seal at the lower end of saidhousing surrounding and disposed in wiping contact with said stem, abearing member at the upper end of said housing guiding said stem foraxial movement relative to said housing and seal between a lower openposition wherein said port is below said seal and opens laterally to theinterior passage through said dip tube and an upper closed positionwherein said seal engages said stem below said port, a spring withinsaid housing above said seal and engaging said stem and housing forurging said stem to closed position, an enlarged agglomerate breakuphead on the lower end of said stem having a lower pointed end andpointed teeth with relatively sharp axially presented cutting edges.

1. A dispensing valve for an aerosol dispenser for dispensing aparticulate material which tends to agglomerate comprising: a tubularhousing having normally upper and lower ends, a tubular valve stemextending centrally through and beyond the ends of said housing andhaving a central passage opening through the upper end of said stem andlaterally through a port in the lower end of said stem, an annularresilient wiper seal at the lower end of said housing surrounding anddisposed in wiping contact with said stem, a bearing member at the upperend of said housing guiding said stem for axial movement relative tosaid housing and seal between a lower open position wherein said port isbelow said seal and an upper closed position wherein said seal engagessaid stem below said port, a spring within said housing above said sealand engaging said stem and housing for urging said stem to closedposition, and an enlarged agglomerate breakup head on the lower end ofsaid stem having a lower pointed end and pointed teeth with relativelysharp axially presented cutting edges.
 2. A valve according to claim 1wherein: said cutting edges face toward said seal to cut throughagglomerates situated between said seal and breakup head.
 3. A valveaccording to claim 1 wherein: said cutting edges face away from saidseal to cut through agglomerates approaching said valve assembly.
 4. Avalve according to claim 1 wherein: said teeth are spacedcircumferentially about and project radially out from said head, saidteeth taper radially outward to pointed tips, said teeth have upperconvergent cutting edges extending from said tips toward said seal forcutting through agglomerates situated between said head and seal andlower convergent cutting edges extending from said tips away from saidseal for cutting through agglomerates approaching said valve assembly.5. A valve according to claim 4 wherein: said stem tapers smoothly to anincreasing diameter in the region between said port and head.
 6. A valveaccording to claim 1 including: a dip tube extending from the lower endof said valve housing in radially spaced surrounding relation to saidhead.
 7. A valve according to claim 6 wherein: the upper end of said diptube surrounds the lower end of said housing in spaced relation theretoto form an annular clearance space between said tube and the lowerhousing end.
 8. A dispensing valve for an aerosol dispenser forparticulate material which tends to agglomerate, comprising: a valvestem having normally upper and lower ends, an annular resilient wiperseal surrounding and disposed in wiping contact with said stem, and anenlarged agglomerate breakup head on the lower end of said stem having alower pointed end and pointed teeth with relatively sharp axiallypresented cutting edges, said cutting edges facing toward said seal tocut through agglomerates situated between said seal and breakup head. 9.A dispensing valve for an aerosol dispenser for particulate materialwhich tends to agglomerate, comprising: a valve stem having normallyupper and lower ends, an annular resilient wiper seal surrounding anddisposed in wiping contact with said stem, and an enlarged agglomeratebreakup head on the lower end of said stem having a lower pointed endand pointed teeth with relatively sharp axially presented cutting edges,said teeth being spaced circumferentially about and projecting radiallyout from said head, said teeth tapering radially outward to pointedtips, said teeth having upper convergent cutting edges extending fromsaid tips toward said seal for cutting through agglomerates situatedbetween said head and seal and having lower convergent cutting edgesextending from said tips away from said seal for cutting throughagglomerates approaching said valve assembly.
 10. An aerosol dispenserfor dispensing a particulate material which tends to agglomeratecomprising: a container having top and bottom walls, a dispensing valvecentrally mounted on said top wall, a dip tube extending from said valvecentrally through said container toward said bottom wall through whichsaid material flows from said container to said valve assembly, saidvalve assembly comprising a tubular housing secured to the upper end ofsaid dip tube, a valve stem extending centrally through said housing andhaving an upper end extending above said container top wall and a lowerend extending below the lower end of said valve housing into said diptube, said stem having a central passage opening through the upper endof the stem and laterally through a port in the lower end of said stem,an annular resilient wiper seal at the lower end of said housingsurrounding and disposed in wiping contact with said stem, a bearingmember at the upper end of said housing guiding said stem for axialmovement relative to said housing and seal between a lower open positionwherein said port is below said seal and opens laterally to the interiorpassage through said dip tube And an upper closed position wherein saidseal engages said stem below said port, a spring within said housingabove said seal and engaging said stem and housing for urging said stemto closed position, an enlarged agglomerate breakup head on the lowerend of said stem having a lower pointed end and pointed teeth withrelatively sharp axially presented cutting edges.